You’re driving home after a long day when a massive 18-wheeler suddenly swerves and crashes into your car. The airbags inflate, the metal twists, and in an instant, everything changes. You’re left shaken, hurt, and completely unsure who to call or how to deal with the trucking company that caused the wreck. The truck, as it turned out, was overloaded—carrying far more than it was legally allowed. You didn’t cause the accident, but now you face medical bills, insurance disputes, and the terrifying reality of fighting a large transport company on your own.
Situations like this happen more often than most people realize, and the risks that ultimately led to your accident started the moment the trucking company decided to put too much weight on its vehicle.
The Dangers of Overloaded Trucks Are Everywhere
It’s understandable. Transport companies want to maximize their profits by loading as much as possible onto a single truck. But each time a truck is overloaded, they are gambling with the lives of everyone else on the road.
Overloaded trucks behave differently, and the consequences can be catastrophic.
Below are four key dangers of an overloaded truck.
Reduced Braking Ability
The more weight a truck carries, the longer it takes to stop. Even a fraction of a second delay in braking can mean the difference between a near miss and a fatal collision. Overloaded trucks can require hundreds of extra feet to come to a complete stop, putting every driver around them at risk.
Increased Risk of Rollovers
Excessive weight, especially if it isn’t properly balanced, can make a truck top-heavy. This instability makes the truck far more likely to tip or roll, particularly during sharp turns or sudden maneuvers. A rollover doesn’t just damage the truck—it endangers every vehicle in the surrounding lanes.
Tire and Mechanical Failures
Every truck has a maximum load rating, and exceeding it places extraordinary stress on tires, brakes, and suspension systems. Tires can blow out without warning, brake systems can overheat, and structural components can fail mid-drive. Any of these failures at highway speeds can cause severe accidents.
Poor Handling and Control
An overloaded truck does not handle as it should. Steering becomes sluggish, swerving is more dangerous, and correcting a sudden drift is extremely difficult. Even experienced truck drivers may struggle to maintain control when the vehicle exceeds safe weight limits, putting other drivers around them in harm’s way.
Call Keys Law Offices Today!!
Substantial truck accidents can occur for various reasons, including fatigue, distracted driving, speeding, overloading, inadequate training, and drug and alcohol use. Sometimes, the trucking company can be liable for an accident if it fails to maintain or inspect the truck properly or violates federal or state regulations. At Keys Law Offices, we are dedicated to representing victims of truck accidents and their families, including those involving semi-trucks.
We understand the complex legal and regulatory issues involved in truck accident cases and know how to properly investigate and litigate these cases to ensure that our clients receive the compensation they deserve. Please do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultation.
Our staff is always available. Call us today!